How to Leash Train a Puppy

So, you’ve recently become a new dog parent, and you just brought your puppy home, and you might be eager to take him out for a stroll. You attach the leash, and you're going out on an adventure, but you then find your pup misbehaving and pulling you to all the wrong places. It might seem to us that walking nicely on a leash is something that comes naturally to dogs. But while it might be a popular assumption, this skill is something that has to be taught, and it's an important one. The good news is, it’s easier than you might think. Without further ado, let’s get into the basics of leash training your puppy!

Introduction

The first step is introducing your puppy to the collar or harness and leash and allowing him to get used to wearing these before heading outside. To start off, the pup will need to be comfortable with wearing a collar. To make this process even smoother, you can start with a lightweight collar. For instance, a nylon dog collar can be an excellent option. That way, you'll make sure the collar is not weighing them down and is comfortable, so your furry mate will more likely be happy to wear it. You can do so by letting him wear it in the house while you're giving him treats and playing with him. This will help him or her associate the leash with tasty snacks and fun.

Pro tip: If your dog is trying to wiggle out of the collar, try giving them a treat the moment you put it on to distract him.

Train Him To Come To You

In order to teach your puppy to come to you when you call him during your walks, you should start small. You can either call him by his name or use a sound cue. When he looks at you and turns towards you, reward him with praise and a treat. Repeat this a few times until he starts coming to you to get the treat. Then you can take a few steps back to allow him to walk to you and reward him again.

Pro tip: Keep your sessions short, as puppies have a short attention span. They're excited to do more things when they are not mentally tired.

Take Your Pup Outside

Once your puppy doesn't become anxious when the leash is put on and has accepted it, it's time to venture outside. In the beginning, it's best to walk him in more quiet areas to teach him to walk nicely on a leash without too many distractions. But keep in mind that it's normal for puppies to be over-stimulated in the beginning, as it's a new experience for him with plenty of new smells and sounds. They will become used to everything over time, just give it time and be patient.

Pro tip: Bring treats with you to reward him for good behaviour on the lead and teach him some commands like 'stay' or 'sit'.

Now that you know how to leash train your new family member, it’s time to get the best dog leash for the job! Here at Pawdyguard Australia, we have an awesome range of dog leashes that are guaranteed to be easy to use and comfortable both for you and your pup.